Apparatus for simultaneously producing moving pictures and reproducing sound pictures



Nov. 27, 1934. E L SPQNABLE APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRoDUcINGMOVING PICTURES AND REPRODUCING SOUND PICTURES Original Filed March 29,1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEEarl I. Sponable, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, toMovietonews, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ot New York Originalapplication March 29, 19211, Serial No. 179,214. Divided and thisapplication October 10, 1931, Serial No. 568,142

9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inapparatus for the production of moving pictures and the simultaneoussynchronized reproduction of' a record corresponding to sound waves, andis a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 179,214 filedMarch 29, 1927.

The main object of the invention resides in the production of movingpictures simultaneously with the reproduction of sound waves from aphoto- 10 graphic record of light waves corresponding to sound waves,and in which the reproduced sound will actually issure from the picture.

Heretofore it has been customary and practically necessary to disposethe sound reproducing device or devices at one side of or above or belowthe screen upon which the moving picture is projected, with the resultthat the sound did not come directly from the picture, and I havediscovered that by the use of a special screen in combination with theother portions of the apfparatus, it is possible to produce a structureand carry out a method by which simultaneously with the production ofAthe moving picture the sound waves corresponding to the picture are,actually projected through the picture, whereby"v a more natural andeffective result is produced.

I have produced an apparatus of this character and have carried out themethod successfully.

In the drawings: i Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of anembodiment of this invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are copies of photomicrographs of a sample of baronetsilk.

Referring to the drawings, the moving picture screen 1 must have aco-eilicient of reflection suf-1 iiclent to produce a good picture, andthe screen must be o1' a character such that it will not permit thepassage of light raysprojected upon it. However, I have produced ankapparatus including a screen having the required coemcient of reflectionand the required imperviousness to light rays, which in addition issumciently porous to permit the substantially undamped. passage of soundwaves, whereby the sound producing devices can be disposed directlybehind the screen, and the sound waves applicable to the pictureactually projected through the picture without the absorption of anysubstantial amount of sound. 'I'he material ot which screen 1 is mademay have substantially the constructional charactristics of baronetsilk. In order to obtain a more definite understanding of the exactstructure of sol threads are not madeto pass under the same cottonthread but one removed four threads to either side so as to form astaggered Weave. This staggering provides openings 19 extending fromfront to rear of the material at varying inclinations to the iiatsurface thereof, which allows the sound to pass through freely butreflects substantially all of the projected light.

'I'he apparatus as shown comprises the screen 1 and a suitable movingpicture projector 2 suitably positioned for projecting light raysconstituting the picture upon the screen.

In addition, there is provided a wall 5 having a narrow elongated slot`i `therein preferably corresponding substantially in area to the slotthrough which the sound picture was produced. The film 3 is adapted tomove past theslot 7, preferably in close relation with the slot, and

light rays from a suitable source, indicated at 6,

are projected through the slot upon the iilm and pass through the sound'record upon a light reactive resistance or a photo-electric cellillustrated at 8.

'I'his photo-,electric cell is connected in a circuit including anynumber of stages of amplification, a single stage being hereillustrated, altho preferably a number o! stages are used. This stage ofamplification includes an electroionic device 14 of the three-electrodetype, and including a filament l21, grid 22 and plate 23.

A suitable means is provided `for heating the filament as for instance,a circuit including battery 13. The grid 22 and filament 21 are 'con-Vnected in circuit with thephoto-electric cell 8, such circuit includinga source of potential, as battery 12.l Preferably, a potentiometer 10and a resistance 9 are connected in shunt with said cireter le isconnected in shunt with a suitable source of potential as battery ilwhereby the desired potential may be maintained upon the grid forproducing the most eiective result.

The filament 21 and plate 23 are connected in circuit with a suitablesource of potential, as battery l5, and in this case with the primary 24of a transformer i6, the secondary 25 of which is connected in circuitwith one or more translating devices 17 in the form of .loud speakersdisposed directly behind the screen l., i. e. upon the op posite side ofthe screen from the projector 2.

Any number of translating devices l'? may be utilized and their form maybe widely varied, and although two are here illustrated, l have usedfour with satisfactory results.

Instead of the secondary 25 of the transformer, any suitable number ofstages of amplification may be inserted at this point. The screen 1, asheretofore described, must bev substantially irnpervious to light raysand must have a co-eificient of reflection sufficient to reproduce agood picture and in addition, must have openings or pores of sufficientnumber and size to permit the passage of sound Waves in substantiallyundamped condition.

These pores or openings may be disposed in the material which I haveselected for the screen at varying inclinations to the surface thereof,or other conditions of structure may assist, not herein possible todescribe, but l. have foundl that the material known as baronet silk hasall of the characteristics required for accomplishing the objects ofthis invention.

However, it may be that various other materiads will be found having thesame or substan tially the same characteristics or perhaps improvedcharacteristics, and for that reason do not desire to restrict myself toany particular material, but only to the fact that the structureutilized shall include a screen having the necessary co-eiicient ofreflection, the necessary imperviousness to light in combination withthel additional features that the screen permits the passage of soundWaves in substantially undamped condition.

l. claim:

l. A .moving picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmission,composed of a single thickness of woven textile fabric having a frontlight reflecting surface to receive projected pictures and provided withinterstices therethrough in number and size sufficient to permit passageof sound.l waves therethrough of appropriate volume without blurring,while at the same time preserving the light reflecting properties ofsuch surface sufficiently to constitute an emcient screen, the walls ofsaid interstices being disposed at varying inclinations to. the surfaceof the screen, so as to prevent any detrimental back reection therefrom.

2, A moving picture screen adaptedfor coordinated sound transmisisoncomposed solely of a single thickness of Woven textile fabric having afront light-reeoting surface to receive projected pictures and providedwith small openings therethrough in number and size and arrangementsufcient to permit passage of sound waves therethrough of appropriatevolume With- .out blurring, While at the same time, preserving thelight-reflecting properties of such surface sumciently to constitute anecient screen, the Walls of said openings extending from front tonosaooo cuit acrosethe lanient and the grid. Potentiomrear of the screenand being so arranged as to prevent detrimental back reiiectiontherefrom.

3.51. moving picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmissioncomposed solely of a single thickness of woven textile fabric havingopenings extending from front to rear of the screen sufcient in numberandk size to allow sound waves to pass through substantially unimpededand undistorted but substantially il pervious to light rays andretaining the light re ecting properties suificiently to constitute anenicient screen.

A moving picture screen substantially imu pervious to light rays andhaving sumcient light reflecting properties to constitute an emcientprojection screen adapted for co-ordinate sound transmission comprisinga single thickness of woven textile fabric having openings extendingfrom front to rear of the screen sumcient in number and size 'to allowsound Waves to pass through substantially unimpeded and undis torted.

5. A moving-picture screen adapted for co ordinated sound transmission,composed solely of a single-thickness Woven textile-fabric screen havinga front light-reflecting surface to receive the projected picture andprovided with openings 'therethrough in number and size sufficient topermit passage of sound-Waves therethrough of appropriate volume Withoutblurring, while at the same time preserving the light-reflectingproperties of such surface sufficiently to constitute an emcient screenfor the presentation of the pictures, the walls of openings being madeup of rounded surfaces of said woven fabric.

lll)

6. a moving-picture screen adapted for coy dinatedsound transmission,composed solely of a single-thickness Woven textile-fabric screen havinga front light-reflecting surface to receive the projected picture andprovided with openings therethrough in number and size sumcient topermit passage of sound-waves therethrough of appropriate volume Withoutblurring,

While at the same time preserving the light-reflecting properties ofsuch surface suiciently t0 constitute an eiicient screen for thepresentation of the pictures, the Walls of said openings being curvedouter surfaces of threads of said fabric.

8. A moving-picture screen adapted for coordinated sound transmission,composed solely of a single-thickness Woven textile-fabric screen havinga base of cotton and a front surface of silk, said silk having a frontlight-reflecting surface to receive the projected picture and saidscreen being provided Withopenings therethrough in number and sizesumcient to permit passage of sound-Waves therethrough of appropriatevolume without blurring, While at the same time preserving thelight-rehecting properties of such surface sumciently to constitute anemcient screen .for

transmission comprising a single thicknessof woven textile fabric havingopenings formed in f the process oi weaving said cloth and extendingfrom front to rear ot the screen sulcient in number and size to allowsound waves to pass through substantially unimpeded and undistorted.

EARL I. SPONAIBLIEI.7

